Tractor cultivator



May 22, 1,923. A

J. T.- BARKELEW TRACTOR CULTIVATOR Fild'sept. 11,. 191s hm. M. www NM..

ijatented itiay 22,

stars sarai eric.

TRACTOR CULTIVATOR.

Application filed September 11,1318. Serial No. 253,404.

To @ZZ whom` t may concern.'

Be it knownthat I, JAMES T. BARKnLnw,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Monterey Park, in the countyof Los ingeles, State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Tractor Culti- VatOrs, of whichthe following is aspecificaton.

This invention relates to tractors appa` ratus and particularly to suchapparatus as applied to ground cultivation; although the tractorapparatushereinafter described is not necessarily limited to thatparticular use. As applied to tractor' mechanisms in general, andtractor cultivators in particular, it is an object of the invent-ion toprovide a machine of great simplicity, and one in which the tractiveeffort is approximately equal, or vat least closely comparable, to theweight of the mechanism. rind, furthermore, in tractor cultivatorapparatus, it is an object to provide a small and easily handiedmechanism capable of doing the lighter kinds of plowing and cultivationwork, and capable of being handled by one man.

In a specic embodiment of the invention wherein the device is reduced togreat simplicity, the apparatus is made to be handled by a man walkingbehind and controlling 30 the device much as he would control anordinary walking plow. However it will be readily understood from thefollowing description that the tractor mechanism may be used for largerapparatus, and is notrestricted to be handled and controlled in thesimple manner described.

For the purpose of the following detailed description reference is hadto the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of asimple form of device; Fig. 2 is a plan thereof; Fig. "3 is a plan ofamodified form; Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof; and Figs. 5 and 6are sections taken on lines 5 5 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 4.

vIn the simple form of device set forth in the drawings I provide aframe which may be constructed principally of longitudinal side framemembers and cross members 11. Art the rear end of this frame I mayprovide a suitable mounting means as indicated at 12 upon which a soilcultivating implement 13 may be mounted. rIhis implement may be a' plow,harrow or any other soil cultivator; and the mounting means may beprovided, in the well known manner, with arrangements for substitutingdierent forms of cultivators. Handles 13 rise from the rear end oftheframe; and it is by these handies thatl this form of my deviceisentirely guided and generally controlled.

Forward of the center of the frame I place a transverse axle 14 mountedin bearf ings 15 which may be secured directly to the upper sides offrame members 10. Axle may or may notl revolve; it may preferably 'beheld stationary in the bearings 15; so that it forms a transverse memberof the rigid frame. pair of supporting wheels 16 is mounted on axle 14,one wheel just inside each frame member 10; and then between thesewheels I mount radial arms 17. rIhese arms 17 may have hubs 18 of somekextent on the axle, so that a, sufcient wearlthe point where the arms17 oscillate on the axle. Fach oscillating arm 1 7 has a hub or boss 19at its outer end and a knuckle pin 20 is mounted in this boss. A pair ofconnecting rods 21 connect to opposite throw cranks 22 on a crank shaft23, and these connecting rods connect one to each one of the pins 20.Crank shaft 23 is driven by any suitable driving lcoimection from motor24. In order to attain the balance desired in a machine of thischaracter I preferably mount motor 24 just forward of wheels 16 andpreferably low d-own on the frame 10. Ch ain drive 25 extends from motor24 to a transverse shaft 26 mounted in bearings 27 across the framerearward of the crank shaft; and a chain drive 28 extends between shaft26 and crank shaft 23. The direction of rotation is preferably thatindicated in the drawings so that connecting rods 21 are most nearlyhorizontal during the back strokes of oscillating arms 17. Forward ofthe motor there may be a radiator 29 and cooling fan 30. Other detailsof construction in connection with the motor, etc., need `not be hereinshown or described, as they 4,point of support.

tween the two extreme positions shown in the drawings.

rlhe two arms move oppositely, one moving forwardly as the other movesrearwardly. Consequently, as one leg g is being pushed rearwardly (withrelation to the frame of the machine) the other legis being draggedforwardly with relation to' the frame of the machine. When the relativepositions of the two legs have been reversed, then the other leg pushes'rearwardly and the other leg is then dragged forwardly. l/Vith the crankshaft and oscillating arms in the relative position illustrated andVwith rotation in the direction indicated,

ythe. forward leg movements will necessarily .be faster than therearward movements.

A feature of this device resides in its arrangement of weight withreference to the In handling the tractor byv hand,it is desirable tohave the weight as evenly balanced as possible; and 'acal cordingly theweight of the whole device is longitudinally balanced as closely as posvvsible onv the vertical center line C which y oneman device.

rpasses through axle la, The cultivator 13,

etc. atthe rear end of the frame may be included in the balance so thatthe whole devicebala'nces on center line C; or a ceranced to normallyhold the rear end down sufficiently to keep the cultivating tool inengagement with the soil. For instance, the weight of the whole machineexcept the cultivating tool may be Abalanced on center C.' In any ofthese instances it will be seen that the operator lcan easily handle thewhole mechanism because the weight is substantially balanced on thecarryingwheels. rlhis is an important feature as regards a small lBut amore important feature regarding the balance of the machine is explainedin the immediately following description; and this feature has to dowith the eiiiciency ofthe traction apparatus regardless of its size andregardless of whether the Ldevice is designed to be handled by one manor is made in large sizeand intended always to be handled by power.

It will be readily understood that the tractive veHort in this device iscaused by ,rearward thrust lengthwise along the legs 35, the point ofapplication of the thrust to the legs being at pins 20. Accordingly thepoint of 'application of thereactance on the machine is at pins 20. Inother words, the

vone or the other of the pins 20.

. pusher legs.

machine pushes it self along and the point of application of the push tothe machine is at New this push or propelling force applied at 20 to themachine is applied ofcourse upwardly and forwardly at an angle dependingupon the angle of the legs. lf this angle is, say, i 45, and ifsufficient power is applied to exert a push of say 1000 lbs. along a legduring its rearward motion, then anuupward and forward diagonal push ofl000 lbs. would of course be exerted at one or the other of the pinsr20. This diagonal push at-loinay be resolved into horizontal andvertical components of (in round figures) 700 lbs. each. ln order tokeep the 700 lbs.

. force from raising the machine, the machine,

by its weight, must exert a downward force ,of 700 lbs. or more, on thepins 20. There lwill be a forward horizontalv thrust onv the machine oflYOO lbs;, which thrust will be unopposed except by the resistance ofVthe cultivating tool. Thus it will be seen that in a mechanism of thischaracter the forward thrust is approximately equal to the weightimposed upon the knuckle pins 20. Now it is a feature of this designthat approximately, or. as fully as possible, the whole weight of themachine is placed upon pins 20. Oscillating arms 17 are mounted on axlel5 and the center of weight is inthe center line C through this axle.'Theposition of each knuckle pinQO oscillatesabove the axle and on eachside of center line C. Consequently, in its average position, eachknuckle pin 20 is in line with lthe longitudinal center of gravity ofthe machine; and therefore,in its average position, the wholeV weight ofthe machine is imposed `on the knuckle pins-that is, imposed upon ltheknuckle v,pin which is at any time moving rearwardly. Thus-in the caseunder suppol sition the apparatus will give the Atractivey eifor't of700 lbs. before the machine will begin to rise off the ground. Chf'ycourse in practice, with this simple form of machine, that lpoint oftractive effort cannot vbe su- `considered as being 'primarily' merelyla means of keeping the'device fromfalling forward during the tractiveaction of the ,passed because if it were the machine would u ln thesimple form of machine hereinrily lustrated the engine 24: may becontrolled from hand levers 40 and 41 on one of the plow handles, whichhandles control timer 42 and throttle 43 of the motor. No transmissiongearing is used; but when it is desired to stop the machine withoutstopping the motor the legs 35 may be lifted up by pulling upon a chain45 attached to the legs, and hooking a hook 46 over cross bar 47. Thismethod, or any other convenient method, may be used for lifting the feetoff the ground. It may be an object in a device of this character to.have the machine as light as convenient for purposes of light, fastcultivation; and this light weight of machine may not be heavy enoughfor the heavier, slower work. To increase the weight of the machine,weight may be added in any suitable manner; the wheels 16 may beconstructed heavier so as to give sufficient weight to the machine. Andthenl if a change of weight is desired heavy and light wheels may besubstituted for each other. And to change the speed of the machine-forlight, fast work or heavy, slowv work, one or more of the sprockets 25a,23a, may be changed in size. The various heavy parts of the mechanismare kept as low as possible in order to keep the center of gravity lowand keep the machine as stable as possible. In a machine of thecharacter shown the center of gravity need not be any higher above theground than the tread distance across wheel 16. Furthermore, the partsare so arranged that the transverse center of gravity is on thelongitudinal center line of the mechanism.

-l In Figs.V 2 to 6 I show a modified form of mechanism wherein 'thereare two pairs of pusher legs 35a and 35h. The general arrangementanddisposition of the parts is the same as hereinbefore specified.I-Iowever, the main frame includes not only the main longitudinalmembers 10 but also twov other longitudinal members )10a between thewheels 16. The forward ends of these longitudinal members 10a may besecured to the cross beam 11a which forms one of the engine supports;while the rear ends of the members 10a may be mounted upon a plate 40which extends across the under side of the frame as is best shown inFigs. 3, 4 and 5. This plate 40 is slotted as indicated at 41 forpassage of the pusher legs 35a and 35b therethrough, the legs beingguided longitudinally by the slots and being also guided by bearingagainst the longitudinal frame members 10 and 10a. In order to make asuitable arrangement (to get the legs 35 far enough rearwardly to beguided by the plate 40-which plate cannot conveniently extend forward oftherear edges of wheels 16) the center 50 of oscillating arms 172L and17h is in this case a little behind the aXle 14a of wheels 16. TheaXle-14a and center 50 of the oscillating arms may be mounted uponcommon brackets 51 which are secured to the longitudinal members 10 and10a. The two arms 17 are cross connected by a transverse rod 55, rigidlyconnected to the arms, so that the arms move together; and the two arms17ID are similarly cross-connected by a transverse rod 5,6.v The pusherlegs 351 are pivotally mounted on rod 56 as a pivot; while legs 35a aremounted on pivot pins a. Rod 55 is further from center 50 than rod 56,so that rod 55 will pass over the ends of arms 17". rllhe pair ofconnecting rods 21a and 2lb are also connected to rod 56 and pins 55a,respectively. rIhere are two sets of connecting rods and the crank shaft523a has four opposite throws 22a and 221. The crank shaft is driven bya chain connection 60 from a shaft 61 which is driven by gears 62ffromthe engine shaft. seenfthat the essential difference between this formand the form first described is that the lastY described form has twopairs of It will be pusher legs and feet `the legs of each pair l actingtogether', and being symmetrically disposed with relation to thelongitudinal central axis ofthe mechanism; so that at all times there isone pair of legs pushing rear-A wardly and engaging the ground onopposite sides of the cent-ral line of travel, so that the draftisalways exactly in alignment with the center line of the machine.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim;

, 1. In tractor mechanisms, aframe, a pivot-ed diagonal" pusher legmovable with relation to the frame; and mechanism, to which the pusherleg isv pivoted, mounted on the frame for moving the pusher leglongitudinally; the longitudinal center of gravity of said mechanism andframe being substantially in vertical alignment with the medial positionof the upper end vof said pusher 2. In tractor mechanisms, a frame, apivoted diagonal pusher leg movable with relation tothe frame;mechanism, to which the pusher leg is pivoted, mounted on the frame formoving the pusher leg longitudinally; the longitudinal center of gravityof said mechanismr and frame being substantially in vertical alignmentwith the medial position of the upper end of said pusher leg; and acarrying wheel for the frame and mechanism mounted upon the frame on atransverse horizontal axis substantially in vertical alignment with thelongitudinal center of gravity, y

3. In tractor mechanisms, aA frame, a pair of pivoted diagonal pusherlegs movable with relation to the frame; means, to which the pusher legsare pivoted, mounted on the frame for moving the pusher legs opposit-elylongitudinally back and forth; the longitudinal center ofl gravityk ofsaid mechanism and frame being substantially in vertical `horizontalaxis substantially alignment With the medial position of the upper endsof said pusherlegs.

ln tractor mechanisms, a frame, a pair of Vpivoted diagonal pusher legsmovable with? rela-tion to thek frame; means to which the-pusher legsare pivoted mounted onl the trame `formoving the pusher legs oppositel7longitudinally back and forth; the longitudinal center ofl grav-ity ofsaid mechanism and framev being substantially in vertical alignment withthe medial position of the upper end of saidS pusher legs; and acarrying Wheel 'for the frame andv mechanism mounted upon'the frame on atransverse in Vertical alignment withV the longitudinal center ofgravity.

ln tractor mechanisms, a frame, an oscillating arm .pi'votally mountedon the frame, mechanism mounted onthe yiframe for oscillating said arm,and al diagonal pusher leg pivoted at one e'nd'tothe oscillating end ofsaid; armL and having its other endlin dragging contact With the ground;the longitudinal center oll gravity of the 'frame and mechanismbeing`substantially in' vertiM cali alignment with the .medialv position ofthe oscillating vends of said arm;

6.-In `tractor mechanisms-,l the combination i of a frame, transverseyaxle' thereon, a supporting Wheel on said ,axle adaptedfto support the'frame abovetheground, an oscillating arm mounted jonisaid axle, a`diagonal' pusher leg'having one end pivotally I connect'edto saidar'mand the other dragging on the ground, mechanismonitheframezforoscillating said arm; and the longitudinal center of gravity of' the,frame andmechanism beingsubstantially'in vertical alignment With'theaxle.

' 7. ln tractor mechanism, a frame, a trans# verse axlefthereon, pairotfspaced supporting Wheelsmoun-ted upon said axle to support the frame,a pair or" oscillating arms mounted on said axle between said Wheels,mechanism mounted` on` the frame and adapted to oppositely'oscillatesaid arms, and diagonal pushery legs pivotally connected at their upperends With the oscillating ends of said arms.

8. ln tractor'mechanisms, a frame, a trans Verse axle thereon, a pair ofspaced supporting Wheels, mounted upon said axle to support the frame, apair oi oscillating arms mounted on said axle between' said Wheels,mechanism mounted' on the frame and adapted to oppositely oscillatelsaidarms, diagonal* pusher legsV pivotally connected at their ends with theAoscillating ends of said arms; the medial position oit said' arms be#ing substantially in a position in vertical alignment with said axle;and the longitudinall center of gravityy of the frameV and mechanism`being substantially in Vertical alignment with the axle.k

9. lntractor mechanisms, a-frame,a roll'- ing.' support for the' rame,-apivoted diagonal pusher leg adapted to engage the groundv at its lowerend; mechanism, to Whichthe pusher leg is pivoted, mounted on the'frameformoving the pusher leg longitudina-lly with relation to the frame; and

the longitudinal center kof* gravity off the Whole mechanism beingsubstantially in ver2 tical alignment with the'medial position of'theupper end of the'pusher leg. l

l0; ln tractormechanism, a frame, apair of spacedsupporting"Wheels, apair ofoscillating arms pivoted atf'their end to the -rame between theWheels, anotherl pair ofoscillatiing arms pivoted to the frame outsidethe Wheels, a pair of diagonal pusher legs'piize oted to the armsbetween the Wheelsv and a pair pivoted to the arms outside the/Wheelsand mechanism to oscillate the inner armsiin unison and the outer armsinunison'and oppositely to the' inner arms. f f

In AWitness that lclaim the foregoing l have hereunto subscribed my namethisrvl-th day olSeptember, 1918.

JAMES T. BARKELEW.

